Do you think boiling water is just helpful in cooking-related tasks? Think again because it has several benefits and uses outside the kitchen as well. But yes, for every different purpose, the degree of boiling water varies. This makes it quintessential to know how long does it take for water to boil for different uses.
Well, learning the skill of boiling water can help in your survival any time you go hiking or if you want to be the next Vasco da Gama. Remember Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild? You must have seen him boiling water in the most unimaginable regions around the world.
Even in medical science, boiling water is used to sterilize milk bottles for babies and steam sterilization. But for how long? That’s the question! So the next time you’re going to use boiling water for any purpose, make sure you are aware of how long you need to boil it.
Boiling vs. Pasteurization
Before we begin to talk about how long does it take for water to boil, we must discuss the difference between boiling and pasteurization.
Pasteurization: As per WebMD, when we talk of pasteurization, it requires heating water to a certain extent that kills certain harmful microorganisms and bacteria present in it, just like we boil milk before consumption. This means water must be heated as long as the harmful microorganisms in it are completely inactivated. However, pasteurization is considered to be done at 100° degrees or 212° F in general.
Boiling: Boiling on the other hand is said to be done when water is heated beyond the temperatures where harmful bacteria and microbes are removed. This process is quite alike the sterilization process. In fact, boiling aims to kill all the bad and good bacteria in the water.
To cut a long story short, boiling is done for a longer time than pasteurization.
Factors Affecting Boiling Point Of Water
Water has a boiling point of 100° degrees (212° F). Even then, the following factors are responsible for determining how long does water takes to boil:
- Amount of water
- The temperature of the water before boiling
- Heating equipment and its quality
- Power (in case of electric kettle/microwave/induction stove)
- The concentration of impurities in water
- Altitude/Height
- Seasonal change
How Long Does It Take For Water To Boil On Stove?
To purify 2 liters of water by boiling, you must heat it for about 20 minutes on the stove.
But at higher altitudes, the same quantity of water will boil in less than 20 minutes due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure. For an elevation of 8000 ft. the boiling point of water becomes 92 °C (198 °F). Bear in mind that the boiling temperature will never cross 100° degrees (212° F) even at high altitudes.
How Long Does It Take For Water To Boil In A Microwave?
A good rule of thumb is to put a spoon or chopstick in the container before boiling water in a microwave.
It usually takes only 1 or 2 minutes for 1 cup of water to boil in a 500 watts microwave.
If you have a microwave with more power then it will take even less time to boil 1 cup (0.24 liters) of water. So check your manual to know the power of your microwave.
It’s a bit of a risky process. That’s why you must set the temperature to moderate and boil the water for 1 minute first and then check it. Then boil it again for 15 seconds and check for the required boiling temperature. If you need to boil it further then again, boil it for 15 seconds.
If water is boiled to even near the temperature you require, stop boiling it.
NOTE: You must not exceed this time limit and keep a check on the water to switch off the power as soon as bubbles start forming otherwise, your container might explode.
How Long Does It Take For Water To Boil In Electric Kettle?
It won’t take more than 2 to 4 minutes to boil 1 to 1 ½ liters (4 to 6 cups) of water in an electric kettle of 1500 watts. Although electric kettles will automatically give an indication when the water is boiled (through the light switches), you can switch off the power button and check the kettle as per this time reference.
How Long Does It Take For Water To Boil For Milk Bottle Sterilization?
For sterilizing milk bottles, boiling water on a stove is the best way.
Here is how to do so:
- You must start by washing your hands first.
- Then wash all the parts of the bottle separately with a dish wash.
- Fill a utensil of 2 liters or more capacity until it’s almost full and put in the parts of the milk bottle.
- Put the water-filled utensil on the stove and turn on the flame.
- Now wait for the water to start boiling.
- Once you see the bubbles, wait for 10 minutes and then turn off the flame. Meanwhile, check the bottle parts every 5 minutes. If any component floats to the top, use a clean spoon to push it back inside.
- Take the bottle parts out on a clean shelf or cloth with a clean pair of tongs. Make sure to place them invertedly and leave them for an hour or two until they have lost their moisture completely.
NOTE: Check the bottle parts for wear and tear before putting them together.
How Long Does It Take For Water To Boil On Induction Convection?
At an induction convention of 1500 to 1800 watts, 5 cups (around 1 liter) of water boils within 5 to 7 minutes. The induction stoves with more power will apparently take 2 to 3 minutes for boiling the same quantity of water.
The Bottomline
For one thing, you might have one or another equipments at hand for boiling water. Let’s say, your microwave isn’t working or you’re on a solo trip to Kimberley in Australia where you’ve plenty of water but can’t use it without boiling. So this blog was aimed to answer all your related questions on how long does it take for water to boil. Also, the factors affecting the boiling point of water have been listed above. So set your timer accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
#1. How Long Does It Take For Water To Boil For Pasta?
It depends on the shape, quality and quantity of pasta you’re using. Nevertheless, here is how long it’ll take to boil 250 g of penne pasta (around 3 cups) in 3 liters of clean drinking water on/in:
- Stove: 7 to 8 (maximum 10) minutes
- Induction Convection: 2.5 to 3 minutes
- Microwave: 3 to 4 minutes
#2. What Factors Affect Boiling Point Of Water?
The following factors affect the boiling point of water-
- Amount of water
- The temperature of the water before boiling
- Heating equipment and its quality
- Power (in case of electric kettle/microwave/induction stove)
- The concentration of impurities in water
- Altitude/Height
- Seasonal change
#3. How Long Does It Takes To Boil 2 Cups Of Water?
Refer to the table below to know how long will it take to boil 2 cups of water-
| S. NO. | Heating Equipment | Time (in minutes) |
| 1 | Gas Stove | 3 to 4 |
| 2 | Induction Convection | 2 to 5 on high power |
| 3 | Electric Kettle | 1 on high power |
| 4 | Microwave | 2 to 4 on high power |
#4. Does Salt Make Water Boil Faster?
It is a scientifically proven fact that salt speeds up the heating process, but just by a few seconds that will not make too much of a difference. Moreover, if you need water without salt, there is no point in adding it for faster heating.
#5. How Long To Boil Water To Sterilize Milk Bottles?
You need to clean all the parts of a milk bottle separately with a dish wash and then keep them immersed in boiling water for 10 minutes.
